Transcript Digging For Diamonds… LT: I can identify important words

Digging For Diamonds…
LT: I can identify important words
in a prompt and use them
to plan my writing.
BLING! BLING!
Diamonds words are…
• Words that tell the
purpose
• Important words that
are repeated
• Words that give clues
about the main ideas
Writing Situation: All students have responsibilities in the classroom. In
the school handbook, there is a list of responsibilities.
Student Responsibilities
* Following rules
* Using time wisely
*Listening carefully
*Attending school regularly
*Completing homework
Writing Directions: After looking at the list, write an article for the school
newspaper about responsibilities that all students should know.
Tell about the responsibilities you think are the most important.
Think-aloud with a partner to identify
the hidden diamonds, they are
repeated, and/or they give clues about
the main ideas.
Example of a think-aloud :
The first word I notice is “responsibilities.” The purpose of this prompt
is to write about responsibilities, so I think that’s a diamond word because
it is part of the purpose. I also notice that the word is repeated several
times in the prompt. That shows it has even more value.
The prompt says to tell about the responsibilities students should know.
The word “students” is important because that’s who would be reading my
article. It’s in the prompt a couple of times, too.
The third word I think is a diamond word is “important.” This prompt
doesn’t tell me to write about every one of the responsibilities on the list.
It says to tell about the ones I think are most important. I think that’s a
diamond word I should use when I plan and write the on-demand piece.
I know that I want at least three main ideas, so I’ll choose the three
responsibilities I think are most important: following rules, homework, and
listening. Those are diamond phrases too.
BLING, BLING! I have diamond words!
Write to the Point planner –
Use diamond words in the planner
Top triangle – most important responsibilities
First rectangle – first is listening
Second rectangle – second is completing homework
Third rectangle – third is following rules
Bottom triangle – most important responsibilities
With a partnerUse Responsibilities piece to locate all the places
where diamond words appear in the piece.